ACROSSFROMWAIR – Moments review

Four piece, South Wales based ACROSSFROMWAIR have all of years of experiences as musicians thrown in with a hint of optimism. With musicians from all manners of genres, collaboratively what is made is a subtle shift from the norm of alternative and rock pop atmospheres. Roping in influences from the likes of Foals and Glassjaw, the Cardiff quartet released their debut four track offering earlier this year, and have plans for an album in the works.

Opening In Stubbed Colour sets off as though leading into The 1975 track, before the more organic and colourful instrumental breaks in. Falsetto vocals only heighten the gentle touch to the music, and with electric undertones through the chorus, there’s a sense of Canterbury influences, at moments sounding rather like their Satellite. And this is a fair comparison in more than just the musical sense; the calibre of the track is also akin. For such an understated track the close feels slightly too hectic, but doesn’t deduct from the solid opening created.

A bolder start to Better Lines with manic percussion builds up to a frantic, instrumental-heavy chorus. Generally, there’s a much stronger focus on the backbone of this track, and it’s safe to say it’s impressive for its freshness and originality. Again, it touches on a harsher sound towards the close of the track which adds a slight edge, and at moments it would’ve been interesting to hear to steel (as opposed to regular) drums used to enhance the summery vibe that flows through this track.

The Great Metallic Fist starts off very much more electric, while the falsetto vocals and light vibe flow through the undertones. Occasionally the sound becomes almost crude instead of complementary and it’s clearly the boldest of the work on the EP, but at just under five minutes, there’s time for a stripped back and slowed down couple of chords in the middle. Two Door Cinema Club musical influences feel prominent (particularly UndercoverMartyn),but a slow and dramatic close draws away from this, and leads it into the final track.

A Flash In The Dark is the slowest of the four unique pieces, and sounds rather COldplay-esque in the layers if the track with electric flecks. Building up with a cymbal heavy backing before falling quiet again, the control and independence in the music is striking, various elements picking themselves up for prominence. Whilst it’s not the music for aggressive crowd gang vocals at the live show, key line, “I never want to say goodbye” would be apt for an open-air festival crowd to sing along to.

The prefix of “for a debut” isn’t needed when describing this as impressive; focus on a mix of the indie music you’d find on Radio 1, throw in some rare, organic originality, and you’ve got ACROSSFROMWAIR. I hope for big things from their album.